Legislation aims to protect nurses from violence

In the wake of a hostage incident at a Fox Valley hospital this spring, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) has introduced legislation this week in Springfield designed to help protect nurses from workplace violence.

"In the last decade, workplace violence against nurses has increased at an alarming rate," Kifowit said in a press release. "An attack on one nurse can endanger the lives of many patients in their care, so it's critical that we take steps to ensure health care professionals are protected against violent individuals."

The issue of safety for nurses was in the spotlight on May 13, when a hostage incident happened at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. An inmate from the Kane County Jail receiving inpatient medical treatment at the hospital took two nurses captive during an hours-long standoff that ended when a regional SWAT officer fatally shot the inmate.

House Bill 4100 would require all facilities employing nurses to institute Workplace Violence Prevention Programs, including committees that are made up of nurses, doctors, administrators and others who work at the facility charged with reviewing security issues, according to the release.

The committee would look at how to handle potentially violent patients, and establishing policies that ensure the reporting, recording, and monitoring of incidents.

"Nurses advocate for patients. Yet, historically, nurses have suffered verbal and physical abuse from our patients and others. Who will advocate for nurses?" said Doris Carroll, vice president of the Illinois Nurses Association, in the release.

The measure would also provide whistle-blower protections for nurses who file criminal complaints against individuals who attack them. This would protect nurses from any backlash from their employers for reporting assaults, supporters said.